Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 1

I was dead.

I bit the dust the night he forced me to lure a killer all to protect his new flame. After I kicked the bucket, they turned my body into an exhibit and stuck me in a glass display case for eternity.

But Dexter Fitzgerald just lost his marbles.

Sea City, the Fitzgerald Mansion

couldn’t figure out why my spirit ended up back at this joint after I took a big sleep.

“Still no word from Phoebe? It’s been days,” Dexter’s mother Hailey muttered under her breath as she parked on the couch. “That kid’s always been a goody two shoes; she wouldn’t just ghost my calls. What if something’s happened to her?”

I was the Fitzgerald family’s adopted girl, shipped over to their pad when I was eighteen.

My mom was Hailey’s BFF. After my folks passed away in a car wreck, she scooped me up and brought me to the Fitzgeralds.

“Mom, just let it be. She’s a big girl; what could possibly go wrong?” Dexter was getting antsy and glancing at the time. “Today’s Melody’s birthday bash–I gotta jet.”

Watching Dexter, I couldn’t help but snicker at myself. Like he’d give a damn if I was dead or alive.

Back in the day, we were the childhood sweethearts everybody raved about. Me, always following him around; him, always holding my hand.

ead

He said he dug me, and then like a complete idiot, I fell head over heels for him for a whole decade.

Turned out young love was paper thin. When Dexter met his true love, all the feelings we had went up in smoke in the blink of an eye.

“Dexter… With that serial killer jazz going around targeting young, pretty girls, I’ve got this twitch in my eye and my heart’s racing non–stop. Hit up Phoebe, tell her I miss her,” Hailey was. on edge and pleaded quietly.

was the only one soothing and caring for me like a

her a hug,

I was the reason

I’m so sorry…” My voice choked up, arms outstretched, trying to embrace her, but I couldn’t touch

She shouldn’t have hung up on you even if she was mad

1/3

1. loaded with disgust as he mentioned me.

when Dexter got sideswiped by kidnappers. I played the decoy like a madwoman, just praying he’d make it

heard him murmuring right before he passed out, “Phoebe, I’ll always be good to

gone, I was just

six feet under, and you’re finally off the hook,” I stood in front of him, mocking myself. “Turns out I’ve always been nothing but an ungrateful woman

and childhood sweethearts with a solid foundation. You’re already an item; if you don’t marry

turned stormy, his voice icy. “Cut the childhood sweethearts crap. Why I gottal marry her just because we grew up together? She’s delusional by using a childhood promise as an excuse to throw herself at me, dignity be damned.”

with rage. I swung at him

in bed. And he also had the nerve

had no choice but

soon as we walked in, Dexter’s buddies started calling Melody ‘Mrs.

Dexter broke the bank to

fondly at Melody, presenting his gift amid cheers from

quietly

the good guy, huh? Weren’t you the one who did me

frowned, “Don’t kill the vibe by bringing her

just smiled, “She’s still your sister, after all.

Dexter scoffed. “She almost got you killed and you’re still sticking up for

too nice.”

in his arms. “I don’t mind…”

it was

Dexter couldn’t hear a

a madwoman. I suddenly